Apps For House Buyers In The UK
The Nature Of The Task At Hand
Whether you're looking to buy, sell or rent a new place, your search will almost certainly start online. With our mobile phones constantly at hand, it begs the question, why shouldn’t we use apps to help us find our dream property?
Buying a house is said to be one of the most stressful experiences in life. From search to the hassle of paperwork and moving into a new home, house-hunting can be challenging, even if you’re with some of the best agents in the country. To help you with your house-hunting, here is a look at some of the best apps for UK house buyers.
Zoopla
Zoopla knows what a home is really worth.
The Zoopla property search app makes it a stress-free and easy way to search for properties For Sale or To Rent on the UK property market. Providing you with everything you need to find the right home to make your move.
Whether buying, owning, selling or renting, the Zoopla app is here at every step of your home buying and managing journey to help you make the right home decisions. Keep you up to speed with the latest properties and information on prices, running costs and market trends.
Rightmove
It’s the largest, most popular property portal in the UK for a good reason with over 130 MILLION visits every month. Their app doesn’t disappoint and is the ‘go-to’ app for many house hunters.
Not only will you get listings for every property that’s up for sale on the normal Rightmove website, but you’ll also be able to access information on schools and stations near each property.
OnTheMarket
The OnTheMarket property search app is a clean and simple way to search for the latest homes on the UK and Overseas property markets and offers hundreds of thousands of houses and flats for sale or to rent at all price points.
Mortgage Calculator UK
Use this free mortgage and overpayment calculator to cut through the jargon and misleading rates to get to the actual cost of a mortgage deal in the short and long term, with the option of factoring in monthly, annual or one-off overpayments.
The App will tell you the following:
- Monthly payment (before and after the deal ends)
- What will happen if rates rise
- Interest-only payments
- Time saved by overpaying
- Interest paid (annual and total)
- Total cost per £1 borrowed
AroundMe
AroundMe quickly identifies your position and allows you to choose the nearest Bank, Bar, Gas Station, Hospital, Hotel, Movie Theatre, Restaurant, Supermarket, Theatre or Taxi.
AroundMe shows you a complete list of all the businesses in the category you have tapped on and the distance from where you are.
Crime Map England & Wales
If you’re moving to a new area, understanding the dynamics of local crime is essential. That will allow you to avoid potential crime hotspots.
This app lets you see actual crime statistics for any area in England & Wales and pinpoints specific crimes on a map to see what’s happening and where.
Houzz
While waiting for your purchase to go through, get inspired about how you’ll decorate with the Houzz.
Browse over 25 million high-resolution photos of home interiors and exteriors. Choose by style, location, or room, such as kitchen or bathroom. Save and share home design photos with friends and family. Use the Sketch feature to annotate and draw directly on photos from Houzz.
For interior and exterior design, shop from more than 5 million products and materials, including vanities, cabinets, lighting, furniture, tile, and more.
We will also add two useful websites - Land Registry and EPC Register.
If you want to know precisely what somebody paid for a property, then you can’t do better than the Land Registry if you wish to see transaction prices for a whole street or just a single property. It's an excellent resource for keeping track of house prices in the area you are hoping to buy or how the value of your current property might have changed.
EPC Register will inform the buyer or tenant of how energy efficient the property is to give them an idea of what energy costs they will face living there. The government’s EPC Register website is also a resource you can use to find an accredited assessor.
There you have it, the best apps to use when buying or selling a property.
How To Renovate Your Home On a Budget
Ideas on how to make stylish updates to your home on a budget
Say home renovation, and many people think - too expensive. But transforming your home doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
Cost is always the biggest obstacle when it comes to renovating a home, which is why spending time going through your finances to document how and where you will spend your money is so vital. But what if you could save some money and still get great results?
If you are looking for the best ways to renovate on a budget, here is a guide to ensure your old home doesn't become a money pit.
Start by stripping out all the old carpets, curtains and as much junk and rubbish as possible. Remove any outdated or damaged fitted furniture. Repair the walls to prepare for painting, stripping old wallpaper and sanding and filling to get a smooth finish.
Be prepared to pounce on the best bargains and deals as and when they arise by organising storage space that gives you the option to store the things you will buy. Buying a bargain when you see it can result in huge savings.
Kitchen
Giving your old kitchen units a new look can be easily achieved without tearing it all out and for a fraction of the cost of a new kitchen.
Add new countertops. If your kitchen cabinets are in decent shape, you can indulge in new countertops and upgrade one of the most complex working surfaces in your home. The smaller the square footage you have to cover, the lower your cost.
Change the backsplash. Adding a punch of pattern or colour is a great way to freshen up a kitchen and add visual interest. With options for tile, stone, glass, ceramic, and beaded board, there are so many opportunities to find a material that’s right for your budget.
Add an island. Stand-alone tables or cabinets can be a cost-friendly feature for an island-less kitchen. The more extras you add (for example, a cabinet with drawers), the more it will cost, so if a super-low budget is your goal, start with a simple table.
Paint, wallpaper, peel-and-stick wood products are great options to give a new face to your cabinets. Removing doors on some upper cabinets offers you easy-to-access open storage without having to add new shelving. Look for ways to refresh your home that fit your budget and how you use the space daily.
Living Room
Update Windows. Don't panic, we're not suggesting you replace them!
By adding new fabric, new shades, or a combination of the two can give a pretty facelift to a living room. To save a little extra money, aim to reuse the existing curtain rods and rings.
Add a Featured Wall. No matter the size of your living room, there are a plethora of feature wall ideas to suit. From modern artwork and intricate wallpaper to decorative decals and treasured plate collections, it’s clear that you should let your walls do the talking. When done right, a featured wall give give a tremendous wow factor to anyone seeing it for the first time.
Update You Soda. Update a vintage sofa or sofa bed with a funky new fabric covering. Or give a sentimental furniture piece a new lease of life with neat new upholstery. It won't cost much and can completely transform your living room.
Bathroom
With the bathroom updates, you don’t always need the ceiling to floor tiles. Instead, consider using waterproof paint on walls other than the shower side.
You can add both style and storage to your bathroom with a medicine cabinet. Replace a plain wall-mount mirror to gain storage and a new look.
You can add pattern and colour with wallpaper in a snap, and it’s totally fine to limit it to one stand-out wall. But if you’re not ready to tackle proper wallpapering quite yet, try the peel and stick kind.
Open shelves and bathroom cabinets can get a modern-day wake-up. Pick different styles from the same family or mix and match different finishes for a more eclectic look.
Bedroom
Add interest to the wall or ceiling. Even if you don't have a stash of power tools, you can easily add wainscoting or trim to dull bedroom walls or ceilings. A guaranteed way to update your bedroom is to add a headboard, whether it's small and stately or oversize and dramatic.
Having an en suite to the master bedroom is a must-have for many – it improves privacy and solves the 'morning queue for the bathroom scenario' in larger households. Providing the layout is carefully thought through, an en suite shower room need not be very large
You can get the space by subdividing one end of a large bedroom using a timber or metal framed stud wall. An old airing cupboard or storage area may be large enough to form a small shower room.
Dining room
A few hundred pounds and a little bit of electrical DIY can give your ceiling space (and your room) a game-changing focal point. Choose several pendants instead of the traditional chandelier for a more contemporary approach.
Add pops of colour with paint or wallpaper. You can even swap out the door inserts for glass or apply coloured film to existing glass. These little touches can go a long way to making a room feel renewed.
Curb Appeal
A fresh coat of paint can work wonders for transforming the front door. Not only does it revive the door, but it also adds a new look to the whole exterior of your home. If your front door has had its day, invest in a new one to make a great first impression or install a smart new knocker or handle. You can even design your own.
Potted plants can make your entryway and porch appealing. Not to mention they are affordable. If you want to invest a little bit more, add some young shrubs on your lawn or choose flowering plants to make your home noticeable.
Concrete pavers can be a great addition to your lawn, but you may be on the fence about upgrading to stone tiles because of the cost. There are surprisingly affordable slate tile options that you can install to cover up the concrete.
It’s the DIY and decorating project that can transform any room in an instant. A fresh coat of paint can give a bedroom, hallway or living room idea a whole new decorating scheme. Whether you choose to add colour or refresh in white, painted floorboards are transformative yet highly affordable. These are just some of the ways you can renovate your house on a budget. Hopefully, you can get pick some ideas of what to do for your next home renovation project. Always have a clear plan in mind, especially if you have a limited budget, and consider what project can give you the most significant value for your investment.
A Guide To Mortgages In The UK
Buying a Home and Need a Mortgage?
Here is our guide to mortgages in the UK.
The UK has one of the biggest mortgage markets in the world, and buying a home and getting a mortgage remains something that many young families plan for. There are different types of mortgages in the UK available through banks and building societies. Most run for around 25 years, although they can be longer or shorter.
There are no legal restrictions on any adults getting a mortgage in the UK. Each bank or building society will have its own set of requirements, but in general, the main factors considered are age, income and job security and credit score.
As mortgages are essentially home loans paid off over a long period, it’s more difficult for older age groups to take out a mortgage in the UK. Most banks and won’t flat-out refuse older applicants. Still, they will probably ask for a bigger initial deposit and limit the time given to repay the mortgage.
You’ll need to show proof of earnings, and the amount you can borrow depends on the amount the mortgage lender feels you can pay back.
Lenders will check your credit history to determine whether you are eligible for a mortgage. If you have bad credit or a low credit score, lenders may be reluctant to grant you a mortgage.
Here is a brief overview of the main types of mortgages in the UK.
Fixed-rate mortgages
These mortgages come at fixed-rate interests for periods of usually two or five years. The interest rate will usually then move onto the lender’s standard variable rate at the end of the fixed-rate period.
Variable-rate mortgages
Variable-rate mortgages can fluctuate and depend on the general interest rate, which makes them riskier than fixed-rate mortgages in the UK. Still, they can be beneficial if interest rates suddenly drop.
Discount mortgages
This is a form of SVR mortgage but with a discount applied to the SVR for a limited period (usually for around 2–3 years).
Tracker mortgages
These SVR mortgages track the interest rate from another source. They can be beneficial in terms of avoiding a sudden hike applied by the lender.
Capped rate mortgages
The interest rate is capped on a variable rate mortgage and can’t rise above a certain amount.
Offset mortgages
Mortgages linked to your savings so that the balance on your savings account is used to reduce the amount of interest charged on your mortgage. They can either lower monthly payments or shorten the length of the mortgage term.
Mortgage rates in the UK have come down in the last five years. As of March 2019, the average interest rates for a UK mortgage are 1.68% (two-year fixed-rate), 2% (three-year fixed-rate), 2.04% (five-year fixed-rate), 2.58% (10-year fixed-rate), and 1.6% (two-year variable).
Although 100% of mortgages don’t exist in the UK, some no-deposit products require a parent or family member to act as a guarantor.
If you’re considering investing in a buy-to-let property, you’ll find mortgage rates of around 3–3.5%.
There are three primary factors that UK mortgage lenders will weigh up before making you an offer.
Your total household income
You can usually borrow up to 4.5 times your annual household income, which will depend on your credit history, and it will factor in all outgoings, including credit cards, loans, memberships, and day-to-day spending costs when calculating the amount they can offer.
The value of the property
In general, loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage ratios range from 50% for buy-to-let investors, home movers, and second mortgages to up to 95% for first-time buyers. The bigger deposit you have, the better rate you can get.
The lender’s estimate of what you can afford
This is where your unique circumstances are considered: your cash inflow/outflow records and your current available assets.
You can apply for a mortgage directly from a bank or building society. Alternatively, you can use a mortgage broker or independent financial adviser. The documentation your lender could ask for includes:
- Payslips from the last three months.
- Three to six months of bank statements.
- Proof of your UK residency status (if applicable).
- Current UK utility bills.
- Passport or other forms of identification.
- Annual UK tax summary form from your employer.
- Evidence of any UK pension or insurance benefits received.
- Two to three years of verified accounts if you are self-employed.
- Tax returns for last year and the previous year.
- Household cash flow statements.
In addition to interest rates on mortgage payments, several other associated fees can add a few thousand pounds to total costs. These fees include the arrangement fee, booking fee, valuation fee, survey fees, transfer fee, higher lending charge, solicitor fees, mortgage broker fee (if used).
These fees need to be paid either upfront or shortly after taking out your mortgage. Afterwards, you’ll often have to pay an exit fee after repaying your mortgage.
You will have to start making payments on your UK mortgage the month after you buy the property. Your mortgage repayment is combined with the amount paid towards the mortgage loan and the interest paid. If you have an interest-only mortgage, you will pay off the interest-only and then have to settle the amount borrowed for the mortgage at the end of the term.
You might want to refinance your mortgage to shorten your payment period, lower your interest rate, or free up some equity to invest in something else. You can usually refinance your mortgage in the UK by taking out a new mortgage with the same lender or a different one.
There are also some different government schemes to help people to buy a home in the UK.
Help to Buy - an equity loan scheme to help first-time buyers purchase a new-build home. You can borrow up to 20% of the purchase price (on homes valued up to £600,000) interest-free for the first five years as long as you have a deposit of at least 5%.
Shared Ownership - a scheme where you buy part of the property and rent the remaining share at a reduced rate. Available to those with household incomes under £80,000 (or £90,000 in London). There are special shared ownership schemes to help older people and those with disabilities to buy a home.
Starter Home scheme - 200,000 new-build homes available at a discount rate of at least 20% off market price to first-time buyers under the age of 40.
Right to Buy - scheme for social housing tenants in the UK who have rented their home for at least three years. They can buy their home at a discount rate.